Preorder Move Slow & Make Things, and enjoy a collection of thoughtful bonus content created just for you!

Preorder the Book
Facebook Instagram Youtube Tiktok

All Things Home
All Things Home

guest room design plan

Now that the foyer project is nearing completion, I’m focusing on a few other rooms I’d like to work on this year.  I’ve already mentioned some building projects and rearranging that will be happening in the studio in order to provide more storage and make the space more functional.  I’ll also be working on my home office to address my lack of filing, need for more desk space, and better storage.  Both of those rooms have to be hardworking and I’m looking forward to addressing some of the functional issues I’ve noticed over the past year and a half of use. The “fun room” I’ll be working on is our guest room.   Right now, it has a couple of really lovely anchor pieces of furniture – the French-style bed and the antique German wardrobe wearing original mustard yellow paint. Otherwise, it’s bascially a cream/beige box.  I’m taking those two pieces as

Read More
January 30, 2019 41 Comments
a slice of life

easy chicken and dumplings recipe

Today was another snow day for the boys and they’ve already canceled school through Wednesday due to the cold.   (The high on Wednesday will be -20 degrees F!)  So, it’ll be a bit of a tough work week for me!  I need an empty house to really focus and reach my maximum level of productivity. But, while we’re socked in with the snow and cold, I decided to make chicken & dumplings.  I made them last week to use up a rotisserie chicken that was on its last day and many people asked for the recipe, so I thought I would share.  I also wanted to show how easy it is.  I think chicken and dumplings has the reputation for being complicated to make, but it’s pretty easy!  At least, this version is. When I made it last week, I started with a rotisserie chicken, so that sped things up

Read More
January 29, 2019 No Comments
a slice of life

easy chicken & dumplings recipe

Today was another snow day for the boys and they’ve already canceled school through Wednesday due to the cold.   (The high on Wednesday will be -20 degrees F!)  So, it’ll be a bit of a tough work week for me!  I need an empty house to really focus and reach my maximum level of productivity. But, while we’re socked in with the snow and cold, I decided to make chicken & dumplings.  I made them last week to use up a rotisserie chicken that was on its last day and many people asked for the recipe, so I thought I would share.  I also wanted to show how easy it is.  I think chicken & dumpings has the reputation for being complicated to make, but it’s pretty easy!  At least, this version is. When I made it last week, I started with a rotisserie chicken, so that sped things up

Read More
January 28, 2019 60 Comments
All Things Home

a lifetime supply of almond extract & honey

This week I’ve been working on organizing our kitchen.  It’s one of the spaces that has been bugging me the most (organizationally speaking).  I hadn’t moved things around since we moved in and, after cooking in this kitchen for a year and a half, it has become clear that some things were put in the wrong place initially. Everything looked neat and orderly from the outside, but there were a few messy cabinets behind those closed doors. One of the biggest problem areas was the deep, skinny cabinet to the left of the fridge.  I decided to use it for my baking gear and ingredients.  It ended up being okay for the gear since baking dishes, rolling pins, etc. fit well in a deep, narrow space, but it was not working at all for the ingredients.  All of the little jars and boxes were buried, disorganized, and things were hard

Read More
January 24, 2019 65 Comments
All Things Home

half-finished stairs

I always have to fight the urge to wait to post something until it’s completely finished.  As I shared in yesterday’s post, I went to a concert over the weekend where Jason Gray performed a half-written song.  This also brings to mind that some of my favorite pieces in the Musée d’Orsay and the Louvré were those that were simple studies and unfinished works.  Much of what we experience in our life is unfinished or half-done. So, it is in that spirit that I am sharing my half-finished stairs today!  This was an unplanned project, but one I’m so happy we’re doing for reasons of practicality and aesthetics. Wall-t0-wall carpet is generally not my thing.  I’m okay with it in certain rooms but I draw the line at kitchens, bathrooms, and stairs.  Well, most stairs.  Our stairs going down to the basement are carpeted and that’s fine.  But 13-year-old beige carpet

Read More
January 23, 2019 70 Comments
a slice of life

creamy potato soup | simple weeknight meal

Both Jeff and I are big soup fans. I discovered my love of soups when our family went on winter retreats to Beatenberg, Switzerland and they would serve the most delicious pureed soups with dinner every night. (This sounds fancy, but I grew up in Germany when my dad was stationed there in the military.) Now that we’re in the thick of winter and I’m working on eating healthier, soup makes a great dinner as well as leftovers for lunches and busy evenings. We’ve been pairing it with a salad, skipping the crackers and bread. Here’s how I make grab & go salad jars for easy weeknights. One of our favorites (and Marshall loves it, too) is this creamy potato soup.  I found the basic recipe in the Better Homes & Gardens Cookbook (the red checkered one), but we all found it to be a bit bland, so I added

Read More
January 21, 2019 No Comments
All Things Home

non-sponsored follow-up Sleep Number bed review

In December of 2017, I received a Sleep Number bed as a part of a blog sponsorship and I shared an initial review of it (as a part of that sponsorship) in April of 2018.  You can find that post HERE if you’re interested. I am sometimes asked about products I receive through sponsorships and if I still use them or love them.  Would I buy the product as a regular customer?  Would I still give it a thumbs up even if I’m not being paid? We’ve been sleeping in the Sleep Number bed for just over a year, so I thought it would be a good time to write a non-sponsored follow-up for those who might be curious about it. In summary, I can tell you that we’re still loving the bed.  It addressed the major issue we had of being on total opposite ends of the spectrum when

Read More
January 17, 2019 41 Comments
All Things Home

bathroom organizing & cleaning make-up brushes

Just like everyone else in the world, January has me itching to get organized.  I am a driven person and that can be a positive thing when it comes to a to-do list, but it can also be a detriment when faced with an entire house to organize and purge.  I want to get it all done all at one time, which just isn’t possible unless I neglect everything else in my life for a week.  So, I’m reigning in that desire and am forcing myself to tackle the house in bite-sized tasks.  When I was sick last week, it was just one drawer in a day.  When I was feeling better, it was one closet or a grouping of drawers. In general, this is a good way to approach organizing, so it’s not overwhelming and you can fit it in around the rest of your life (that doesn’t come

Read More
January 15, 2019 24 Comments

I’m Marian, a painter, writer, and lover of all things creative. From art and antiques to home projects and everyday life, I share my journey in hopes of inspiring you to embrace your own creativity and make beauty in the spaces you live.

Facebook Instagram Youtube Pinterest Amazon

next art sale

May 20th, 2026 at 1pm EST

Get Early access →

Now Available for Preorder

Move Slow & Make Things

A book about creativity, intention, and making things with care. Sign up to receive updates, preorder details, and exclusive bonus content.

From the Studio

Artful pieces for your home and everyday life.

From original paintings and art prints to Pup Club releases and curated goods, each piece is created or chosen to bring warmth, creativity, and character into your home.
Explore the shop →

From the Studio and Home

Shop the Feed

A handpicked collection of items styled and shared throughout posts, projects, and social feeds. Every product is thoughtfully chosen to reflect a timeless, collected aesthetic.
Shop Now →

Recent Video

Spring Posts

Explore the Shop

Explore the Blog

Categories
error: Content is protected.

Pin It on Pinterest